The object-fit property prevents deformation by controlling the scaling behavior of images and videos in the container. Its core values ??include contain (keep the proportions to the container), cover (cover and crop the excess), fill (stretch fill the container), none (keep the original size), and scale-down (take none and contain smaller ones). For images, use object-fit:cover; to ensure that images of different sizes are displayed consistently in a fixed layout; for videos, this property also applies, such as filling the container without stretching when used in video chat UI or background video. In terms of browser support, modern browsers support it, but IE11 is not compatible and requires polyfill or alternative solutions. Other tips include adjusting positions with object-position, ensuring that elements have defined dimensions and testing responsive performance.

When you're working with images and videos in CSS, especially when they need to fit inside containers of specific dimensions, the object-fit property becomes super useful. It gives you control over how those media elements scale and behave within their space.

Here's how to use it effectively for both images and videos.

How object-fit works for images

The object-fit property tells the browser how an image should adjust itself to fit its container. By default, images just stretch to fill their space — which can distort them if the aspect ratio doesn't match.

You can change that behavior by setting one of these values:

• contain : Scales the image to fit entirely inside the container, keeping the aspect ratio. There may be empty space around the image.
• cover : Scales the image to cover the entire container, cropping parts if needed. Great for full-width banners or background-style images.
• fill : Stretches the image to fill the container without maintaining the aspect ratio (can look squashed).
• none : Image stays at original size, regardless of container size.
• scale-down : Similar to contain , but uses the smaller of none or contain .

For example, using object-fit: cover; on a fixed-size card layout ensures all images look consistent, even if they're different sizes originally.

Applying object-fit to videos

Just like images, videos often need to fit into containers without looking weird. The object-fit property works exactly the same way on <video></video> elements as it does on <img alt="Implementing object-fit property for images and videos in css" > .

Let's say you have a video chat UI where each user's video feed is in a square box. Using object-fit: cover; makes sure each video fills the box without stretching or leaving black bars on the sides.

Another common case is hero sections with background videos. You'll usually go with object-fit: cover; and set the video width and height to 100% so it covers the whole area.

Don't forget:

• Always apply object-fit directly to the video element.
• If the video has audio or controls, make sure those are still accessible after styling.

Browser support and fallbacks

Good news: object-fit is supported in all modern browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. However, if you need to support older versions of Internet Explorer (like IE11), you'll run into issues because it doesn't support this property at all.

If you must support IE:

• Use JavaScript polyfills like object-fit-images
• Or fall back to using background images or other layout tricks

But for most current projects, especially those targeting modern users, you can safely use object-fit without worrying too much.

A few small but important tips

One thing people often miss is that object-position works alongside object-fit . This lets you control where the image or video sits inside the container — say, aligning it to the top or right side instead of center.

Also, remember that object-fit only works if the element has a defined size. So always set width and height on your image or video tag, or make sure it's constrained by its parent container.

And finally, test how your layout behaves on different screen sizes. Sometimes what looks good on desktop breaks weirdly on mobile, especially with cover or contain .

Basically that's it.

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